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A Subwoofer That's a Breeze to Transport

Want to push some serious air? With 1000 watts continuous and 2000 watts peak power handling, the QWC KW181 is a seriously powerful subwoofer. Like its QSC KW series siblings, the powered KW181 boasts a machined birch plywood cabinet, aluminum handles, a strong steel grille, and casters that make it easy to move -- so you can get the dance floor moving faster. Integrated M10 suspension points make the KW181 ideal for flying, while its threaded pole-mount cup provides a wobble-free connection with the included threaded speaker pole.

Learn more with this video from QSC:

KW Stands for Kilowatt: 1000 Watts of Class D Power

As part of QSC's robust KW series, the KW181 sub is a powered, active speaker with 1000 watts of lightweight Class D amplification. This sub's built-in Class D power amp employs QSC's Guardrail limiter to prevent destructive clipping distortion and speaker cone over-excursion, while a virtually silent internal fan turns on when the amp senses high temperatures -- making the KW181 truly robust.

QSC's Intrinsic Correction Processing

To build a subwoofer that performs equally well across the entire sound field, QSC took dozens of measurements and implemented FIR linear phase filters that adjust the speaker's frequency response, helping deliver consistent sound over the entire audience.

DEEP Mode: More Bass, Less Distortion

To get impressive bass output from 1000 watts, the KW181 subwoofer has QSC's proprietary DEEP: Digital Extension and Excursion Processing. Flip the DEEP switch on the back of your sub, and a virtually transparent limiter kicks in to increase the average output of bass frequencies. Much more than just a low-frequency EQ boost, DEEP mode employs sophisticated DSP to detect and correct any brief bass transients that could cause clipping distortion or over-excursion of the 18-inch woofer -- helping the KW181 to safely pump out frequencies as low as 43 Hz, with a maximum SPL of 132 dB.

Product Description

Building on the success of QSC's K Series, the KW181 represents the next evolutionary step in wood enclosure loudspeakers. QSC system engineers have created the KW181 to feature all the groundbreaking electronic attributes of QSC's popular K Series while at the same time designing a product that is both smaller and significantly lighter than previous wood enclosure models.

Sophisticated DSP: A Smarter Sub

Extensive signal processing is employed throughout, providing levels of sonic clarity and total output that defy all expectations for a product in this category:- Intrinsic Correction, first featured in QSC's high-end line array products, maps 65-75 spatially-averaged measurements to IIR and FIR filters that actively adjust time, frequency and amplitude response to a maximally flat bandpass target. The result is a speaker that behaves equally well across the entire sound field.- DEEP and excursion limiting allow for extended low-frequency response by actively managing low-frequency transients without degradation of the underlying signal or adjacent frequencies.- GuardRail(tm) protection. first introduced on QSC GX Series amplifiers, protects both the amplifier module and your performance from unnatural and destructive clipping.

Premium-grade Materials

The KW181 is designed to withstand the rigors of professional use. Advanced construction processes, premium-grade Baltic birch cabinetry, ergonomic, cast aluminum handles, low-noise casters and a highly protective steel grille provide for ease of transport and long term durability. Integrated M10 suspension points allow for flown applications with a KW M10 KIT (sold separately) and a threaded pole receptacle provides for a positive, wobble free connection to a threaded speaker pole (included).

Connections and Control

On the rear of the KW181 sub, combo XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs accept line-level input. The DEEP switch can be set to NORM or DEEP(tm) for additional bass extension. The rear panel LED switch can be set to POWER, illuminating the front-mounted LED when the unit is powered on, OFF for applications where it is not desirable to illuminate the front LED, or LIMIT which indicates to the system operator that the clip limiter circuit has been engaged during operation.

Remote Gain Control Ready

Remote gain control capability is offered via a potentiometer (not included) connected to the onboard Phoenix-Style connector. In an installed application, multiple KW181 speakers can be "daisy-chained" for total gain control from a single remote pot. Auto-standby mode is engaged after 5 minutes of inactivity.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Sound filled up Raley Field in Sacramento"

Overall:
I am the sound engineer for two local bands. We played at Raley Field in Sacramento and the two KW181's and two KW153's filled up the entire outfield from the stage set up at second base. Many people came up to me and complemented the quality of the sound from so far away. My other band, a Pink Floyd tribute band played at the new outdoor amphitheater in Folsom, CA. The KW181's set off car alarms in a parking lot about 100 feet away and 90 degrees from the stage. I am running the speakers through a DBX DriveRack PX on custom setting because the KW series is no on DBX's preset list. I am constantly complemented on the quality of the sound from these speakers. The covers are a little pricey but are high quality and well worth the price. I have had no warranty issues after 9 months of use. The wheels on the base units are great!

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"These should win the Nobel Prize for PHYSICS IN MUSIC DELIVERY"

Overall:
these lil 80+ pound beasts should not be putting out the deep bass and SPL that they do for their size and both of them on a single Furman power strip..They replaced my much larger jbl 718xlf...they are much louder,more sensitive to your input and more portable (they fit under a table). Amazing power compression,maintained a hefty 132db for 6 hours straight and hit the 135db mark at limit at 50hz...except when used outdoors where they sunshine played a roll and they maintained 130db and peaked at 133db at 50hz after 4 hours! The built in casters have been a godsend (no more rock n roller cart for me). They have yet to rattle even when playing hard hitting reggae riddims.Get the QSC cases as they even cover the amplifier when being transported so if you're rolling over a wet surface the casters don't spray liquid on the amp unit. My entire DJ Crew has these as their subs and work an average 5 days a week each and no problems ever on any of them..The have a habit of singing La Roux when you're rolling into your gig though.. "I'll beeee Bulllleeet Proof!" and they so are..

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